Temporary level crossing near Occupation ō Mangamaunu removed as chains cut

Friday, 21 February 2020

The chains on two gates blocking a temporary level crossing on the Kaikōura coast have been cut, prompting the removal of the crossing for residents' safety.

The North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance (NCTIR) has written to Station Rd and Kiwa Rd residents warning them of the crossing's removal, to 'limit access to … the live rail corridor'.

Occupation ō Mangamaunu protesters blocked Kiwa Rd this week in an effort to stop ongoing coastal roadworks damaging sacred sites. Protesters were re-directing traffic down Station Rd.

The temporary level crossing was installed for NCTIR crew to use for construction purposes, and at that time, was manned by rail protection officers and operated 'under strict safety protocols', the letter said. 

**READ MORE:

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* Māori Council takes post-quake rebuild concerns to Auditor General

* Māori Council is calling for an investigation into the Kaikōura rebuild**

When NCTIR's use for construction purposes ended the gates were locked to keep people away but 'recently the chains locking the gate have been cut', it said.

'While we have installed new chains, we are also removing the temporary crossing to limit access to and protect road users from the live rail corridor.'

This temporary level crossing was always planned to be removed as part of NCTIR’s disestablishment works, as it was not a formal crossing, the letter said. 

NCTIR was scheduled to commence 'safety upgrades' at the nearby Kiwa Rd on February 3, but work never started.

This comes as protesters, who believe post-quake roadworks running roughshod over sacred sites, put a temporary stop to construction by barricading Kiwa Rd.

They were redirecting local traffic down Station Rd and calling for it to become the main route for thoroughfare, but NCTIR placed concrete blocks at its entrance for 'immediate public safety'.

NZ Transport Agency manager Colin Knaggs said they looked at a number of options in 2019 regarding safety improvements for the area, which included the use of Station Rd and permanent closure of Kiwa Rd.

'However the Station Rd option would have required much more extensive work, potentially taking years, and was therefore outside the NCTIR timescale and scope.'

Station Rd was also a local road not a state highway, he said.

All the reports and safety audits were passed onto Kaikōura District Council and Te Runanga o Kaikōura to discuss future developments in the long-term with the Transport Agency.

The safety improvement works at the intersection of Kiwa Road and SH1 was extensively discussed through the Restoration Liaison Group, the Cultural Advisory Group, Te Runanga o Kaikōura, and Kaikōura District Council, Knaggs said. 

Most neighbours near the occupation were silent on the subject, but some expressed their own safety concerns about Station Rd. 

Kiwa Rd resident Richard Collison, who was currently in the United States, said crossing through the industrial rail yard at Station Rd would be 'unsafe for us'.

He also said the 'surfing traffic would impede our quiet enjoyment'.

'I bought the property under the premise [Kiwa Rd] was the one and only access,' he said. 

After a few 'very close calls' at the Kiwa Rd intersection, Collison said he would 'absolutely' like to see safety upgrades. 

A Station Rd resident, who did not want to be named, said he was still making up his mind on the issue of occupation. 

He didn't support the idea of Station Rd being used due to safety reasons.